San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-01-29

yes, my dear, that Will ice hest. And
now leave me. Cool night. | have
much TO think over Tell Dick not to
disturb me-he need not know OF this"
pointing to the ashes on the hearth
|and | will ring for Ilartnell when |
want him."
Good night, Mr.. Bertrand" Aileen
answers quietly. and leaves the room,
little thinking that this is the last time
she will ever hear the old mans voice.
IL is late-nearly eleven O'Clock. just
outside the library door she meets Dick.
In her hands she carries the roll OF
notes, and, with sudden air of con-
fusion, she smuggies them into her
pocket.
"Her pay as nurse. suppose" Dick
thinks. The Old man must have paid
her uncommonly we'll"
Some of the notes fall upon the floor.
Dick picks them up and hands them
back to her. Aileen IS III panic; her
hands are shaking, her face is very
pale and wild.
Goodbye" she SAYS suddenly. Il
am going early tomorrow; and forgive
me II you can"
Il have nothing to forgive" Dick an
swers, now nearly as agitated as her
self. You could not help loving him
best"
She looks at him blankly, and then
her face grows cold and hard.
Better let him think So" she says to
herself-"better let him think anything
than know am an impostor."
is my grandfather awake stilly
Dick asks, after brief pause.
Miss Brown appears to have taken
leave of her senses, for he can only
mako ont from hpp tranlnlnIIQ wprIQ
that Mr.. Bertrand is not to be dis
turbed any more tonight, that he told
her 10 tell him so, and that he would
ring for Hartnell when he wanted him.
All right" Good night, Miss
Brown"
Whether Mr.. Bertrand ever rings
for Hartnell 10 one ever knows. In
the early winter morning a woman's
shrieks echo through and through the
house, feet fly hither and thither,
scream follows scream; white-faced
servants gather round the cold lifeless
body of the master of the house, who
has been murdered. they see, by the
blood that flows from his side on to the
floor.
Dick Ponsonby, shocked and horri-
fed, sends off for doctors and police,
and Hartnell obeys his orders with
alacrity.
tho oman escritoire aft ioofs lie 1oh.
berry, Mr.. PonsOnbyp
naIa and bor1or-strickan DaadNmur,
SSareSMtba hind old man whom, she
had left alive and we'll last NIGHT She
is ineynressihIv erieved and sbocked
and Iodks wifi tears RAILING down her
cheeks at the dead face Who conId
have done itp Who could have commit
ted fine base deedp
ale never rang for me at ALL de-
clares Hartnell soIemnly. II met Miss
Brown at eleven O'Clock. and She told
me INV master would ring when he re-
0uired me. and. as had never heard
the bell. / Thought Mr.. Ponsonby had
seen him TO his room"
1t is evident that Miss Brown WAS
the last person who saw the old man
alive. That the murder was Committed
for robbery is plain. for after the deed
was done the safe. writinC-desk and
various private drawers had been
opened with Mr.. Bertrand's own KEYS.
and money and yaluabIes taken. and
worse than all. the collection of family
diamonds.
at must have been the work of a
professional" Dick Ponsonby declares,
i'm cOnclaye with the pOlice-Ofiicer.
But on further examination it looks
as if the murder WAS committed Inv
some one in the house. for there is no
mark of any one having gone out
by door or window. And the horrible
mystery deepens. for ALI the seryrnts
are old tried, and faithful retainers.
The dead body of the late master is
laid in his own bed, grim and CHASTITY.
to await an inquest. When they are
lifting him, they lind a torn morsel of
Cambria i'm his clenched fineers-a
shred of a pocket-bandker hi #: there
are two letters marked on ia. B."
entwined in a monogram.
Miss Brown recognizes the morsel of
cambric as a norton of one of her mock
et-handkerchiefs, but breaks down i'm
fit of nervousness as She acknowledges
the fact. How it could have got into
the dead mans hand and what han
pened to the rest of the handkerchief ia
a mystery: and there is also mo- trace of
the Weapon by which the murder was
committed. II must have been a sharp-
pointed knife. and the blow must have
pierced the heart directly. producing
instantaneous death
Dick Ponsopby is sitting nv himself.
very grieyed troubled and nerplexed'
Uartnell enters softly
AZ beo yonr pardSn sir he beqins.
standing inst inside the door
Come in Hartnell Have Won anv.
thing to tell mey1
ayes, sir something Won ought To
know Mary fine honse-maid has inst
fo,,,a Az, "a;